March in Taiwan Commemorates 51st Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising

March 7, 2010

The Tibet Post
Keary Huan, Taipei Correspondent
March 3, 2010

Taipei -- 10 March marks the 51st anniversary of
the Tibetan uprising against Communist rule.
Taiwan Friends of Tibet will join the Tibetan
Welfare Association of Taiwan, the Tibet Youth
Council of Taiwan in organizing a march to
commemorate this important day when the Tibetan freedom struggle began.

On the evening of 10 March, the nonprofits will
hold a candlelight vigil in Freedom Square in
remembrance of those with dauntless spirits who
sacrificed their lives in hopes of gaining freedom in Tibet.

The march itself is scheduled for Sunday, 14
March. The people of Taiwan feel more passionate
than ever, and cannot remain silent, because the
Chinese Communists oppression of Tibet has only
intensified over the past year. Last year,
several monks were arrested, monasteries were
closed, believers were detained in an effort to
rescue their Rinpoche, monks continued to
protest, but suffered military repression.

This repression took the form not only of
religious persecution, but also targeted Tibetan
artists: singers, writers and directors were
arrested, and some even sentenced to death. In
addition, the governments resettlement policies
forced nomadic herders who had followed the same
lifestyle for hundreds of years to settle in
towns, threatening their economic independence
and cultural traditions. People see this as an
attempt by Chinese Communists to deliberately
extinguish the Tibetan way of life, identity and
culture. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama stated,
Tibetans inside Tibet today look like they are living in a big prison.

The organizations welcome all Taiwan communities
to join in solidarity with the Tibetans on
the 51st anniversary of their uprising. The
demonstrators will gather on 14 March at 13:00,
and proceed from Chunghsiao junction to Taipei 101.